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Most Economists Expect Fed Will Hold Rates Steady at Least Until June

In the latest WSJ survey, economists were split over whether Federal Reserve would raise benchmark federal-funds rates once or twice in 2019

Fed Chairman Jerome Powell said he doesn't yet see tariffs as having a visible mark on either the U.S. or China, but higher, long-lasting tariffs could in the long-run lead to a less-productive economy around the world. Photo: Getty

Most private economists surveyed expect the Federal Reserve will hold interest rates steady at least until June, after Chairman Jerome Powell signaled the central bank may take a break from rate increases.

The economists also lowered their forecast for the path of interest rates in 2019 for the second straight month in a new Wall Street Journal survey.